If you go

Cody Draper, an officer with the Northwest Colorado Chapter of Parrotheads, has one hope for this year’s Art ‘n the Park’n Lot event.

Better weather.

The event, an outdoor festival of sorts featuring arts, crafts and music, is in its second year and is hosted by the local chapter of the national Parrotheads organization.

In its inaugural year, the event was hosted in October and “un-fortunately, the night before, we got a little bit of a snow storm,” Draper said.

“It was a little chilly and very last-minute when we put it together last year,” he said with a laugh.

But, Draper said the “Jimmy Buffett God came out for us” and warmed the weather by the afternoon, helping to bring in several hundred people to the event, he said.

“Hopefully, this year it will be bigger and better,” he said. “So far, the weather looks like it is going to cooperate.”

The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot on the corner of West Victory Way and Tucker Street.

Admission to the event is free.

Art ‘n the Park’n Lot is the Parrotheads’ largest fundraiser of the year, Draper said. The money raised from the event goes toward funding the organization’s projects throughout the year.

Draper said some of the Parrotheads’ larger projects include helping keep music programs in schools and environmental work like keeping the local waterways clear of trash.

This year’s event will include several arts and crafts vendors, live music, a beer garden, a silent auction, food vendors and more, Draper said.

So far, about 19 local arts and crafts vendors have signed up to display during the event, Draper said. The vendors include jewelry makers, woodworkers, artists and painters, among others.

There will be three different food vendors as well as a live music line-up of three bands and five individuals. The event will also feature an open mic for those interested in sharing their musical abilities throughout the day.

An all-day silent auction will feature several baskets containing various items as well as other goods up for bidding, Draper said.

Draper said one of the main goals of the event, other than the fundraising aspect, is the promotion of local artists and musicians.

“We like to let people that are local have the opportunity to showcase some of their crafts that they may do that they may not have the opportunity to display at other venues,” Draper said.

Parrotheads member John Husband said he is looking forward to the live music at the event.

“I think having the event is going to help to encourage local arts and crafts involvement,” he said.

But, for Husband, what is most important is continuing the Parrotheads’ goal of helping the community.

“The theme here is giving back to the community, and having a good time doing it,” he said.